1972–73 Baltimore Bullets season

In the 1972–73 NBA season, their 12th overall season and tenth and final season in Baltimore, Maryland, the Bullets were led by seventh-year head coach Gene Shue and won a third consecutive Central Division title.

Prior to the season in June, forward Elvin Hayes was acquired in a trade from the Houston Rockets, for forward Jack Marin and draft picks. In the 1972 draft in April, Baltimore selected point guard Kevin Porter in the third round. After a slow start, the Bullets had a strong 10–4 record in December. In the playoffs, they faced their playoff rivals the New York Knicks, and fell in five games in the conference semi-finals; the Knicks went on to win the NBA title.

Following the season, the Bullets made a short move to the new Capital Centre in Landover, a suburb east of Washington, D.C., and became the Capital Bullets. The Bullets would later play 35 regular season games in Baltimore from the 1988–89 through 1996–97 seasons.

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * March 30
 * @ New York
 * L 83–95
 * Archie Clark (22)
 * Wes Unseld (16)
 * Archie Clark (6)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,694
 * 0–1
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 * 2
 * April 1
 * @ New York
 * L 103–123
 * Phil Chenier (27)
 * Wes Unseld (14)
 * Kevin Porter (7)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,694
 * 0–2
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 * 3
 * April 4
 * New York
 * L 96–103
 * Elvin Hayes (36)
 * Elvin Hayes (14)
 * Riordan, Clark (4)
 * Baltimore Civic Center 12,289
 * 0–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * April 6
 * New York
 * W 97–89
 * Elvin Hayes (34)
 * Hayes, Unseld (13)
 * Archie Clark (10)
 * Baltimore Civic Center 12,289
 * 1–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * April 8
 * @ New York
 * L 99–109
 * Archie Clark (30)
 * Wes Unseld (21)
 * Chenier, Unseld (4)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,694
 * 1–4

Awards and honors

 * Elvin Hayes, All-NBA Second Team
 * Mike Riordan, NBA All-Defensive Second Team